With only four days to go
for the dawn of the Day all have been waiting for quiet
long, the heat is already on and every inch of Prasanthi
Nilayam is reverberating in anticipation of the SUN TO RISE
on that coveted day, 23rd November 2005, the day when
Avatar’s physical frame enters the Eightieth Year of His
sojourn on Earth. Of course, for the one who is beyond time
and frame, it is yet another occasion to pour His bounteous
benevolence to them whom He calls His Own Reflections.

Prasanthi Nilayam is
already filled to capacity and one can see roads leading to
the ashram being spruced up for the special occasion with
decorations and huge hoardings on both sides welcoming the
influx of thousands of devotees from different parts of the
world. Ashram administration and the state government have
made elaborate arrangements to ensure comfort and
convenience of the expected lakhs of devotees in the days to
come. With free food as ‘prasadam’ being offered to devotees
from today onwards, separate makeshift kitchens have become
operational with thousands being served breakfast, lunch and
dinner both South Indian and North Indian style, apart from
snack and tea in the evening, Food is served in huge pandals
specially erected for the occasion….and hundreds and
thousands of Seva Dal volunteers are active round the clock,
right from unloading provisions that are arriving regularly,
shifting these provisions to the makeshift kitchens, to
cooking and serving the thousands. Special tents are raised
to accommodate the participants of the World Conference and
other devotees towards the Western end of Prasanthi Nilayam.
Special telephone booths with ISD, STD and local call
facilities are arranged at vantage points in the ashram and
an Information Centre is functional round the clock near
Ganesh gate to facilitate devotees with required
information. Special Bookstalls have been erected at vantage
points to facilitate devotees with easy access to Sai
Literature.

Free Medical Camp and
emergency medical care are being provided with both
allopathic and homoeopathic doctors available on duty round
the clock. Moving on to the Hill View Stadium, one could see
elaborate arrangements being made to see that everything is
foolproof for 23rd morning. The main dais is being specially
decorated and a special huge stage is being raised on the
western slope of the stadium adjacent to Krishna Statue for
the day’s programme.

With the Eighth World
Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations getting
underway on 20th November, arrangements are well on a higher
gear with huge settings, shamiana being rasied, behind the
North Blocks, towards the North-West end of Prasanthi
Nilayam which can easily accommodate thousands of devotees
expected to attend the conference.

18th November 2005, 15:00 Hours IST Reporting from
Prasanthi Nilayam

Rathotsavam
(Chariot Festival)

Tradition has it that 18th November is celebrated every year
as the Rathotsavam in Prasanthi Nilayam. This day heralds
the Birthday celebrations every year. This year the
celebrations began a day earlier with the Mass Marriages
function (a report of which was given in our previous
update). The idols of Venugopalaswami and Rama, Lakshmana,
Sita and Hanuman are brought to the Prasanthi Mandir the
previous night and the next morning they are taken in a
procession to Pedda Venkama Raju Kalyana Mandapam
(previously called Patha Mandir or Old Mandir). Arati is
offered to the idols and on their return, only the idols of
Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman are brought to the
Prasanthi Mandir. This tradition is punctiliously followed
every year in Prasanthi Nilayam as is done in other temples.

Bhagawan came to Sai
Kulwant Hall for granting Darshan at 7.45 a.m. to the sweet
strains of Nadaswaram and the bugles of Panchavadyam. The
Veda chanting students were dressed in the traditional
attire of Dhoti and angavastram for the occasion. After
Darshan, Bhagawan went inside Bhajan Hall and asked the Veda
chanting students to start the procession. Soon the Seva
Dals who were to carry the palanquins of decorated idols
took their positions. As is the custom, Bhagawan’s dear
elephant Sai Gita led the procession followed by Nadaswaram,
Panchavadyam, Veda chanting students and Bhajan singing
group from Sai Kulwant Hall. As the palanquins reached the
Gopuram gate, the idol of Venugopalaswami was placed in a
chariot. As the procession was about to begin its journey,
Bhagawan came to the Gopuram gate and blessed the chariot
and the Seva Dals. As the procession meandered through the
Gopuram main road, thousand of devotees offered Arati and
flowers, broke coconuts and paid their salutations to the
idols. It was sight to see so many people offering their
obeisance to the idols. After the procession reached the
Kalyana Mandapam, the grand chariot carrying the idol of
Venugopalaswami was moved inside the enclosure kept
specially for it and Arati was offered to the idols. Then
the procession began its return journey with the idols of
Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman. Bhagawan was all the
while waiting for the procession to reach the Prasanthi
Mandir. After the idols were placed in the Mandir, Arati was
offered to Bhagawan. Then Bhagawan retired to His abode.
Thus ended the grand festival of Rathotsavam in Prasanthi
Nilayam.